Thanks for the advice. I know how Metafilter works. They are different stories. I did the search.posted by apocalypse miaow at 5:31 PM on June 14, 2003

Heh. I hope one of them wasn't my good pal Moshood. We've been corresponding for a year. I'm sure the deal will go through any day now...posted by hipnerd at 7:08 PM on June 14, 2003

You know, part of me would love to see these guys put out of business (if for no other reason than I get sick of their spam). But there's another part of me that has to sit back and think that anyone stupid enough to fall for this scam gets what they deserve. I mean, it was obvious when it first started that it was a scam, and it's been so publisized, how can anyone still fall for the thing?posted by piper28 at 7:20 PM on June 14, 2003

It's not one guy, or even one group of guys.. it's an entire industry. They compete with each other for hot leads try to steal clients etc.. etc.. that's why there are so many emails there are 100s if not thousands trying the same old scam on a full-time basis. The scary thing is it actually works so it keeps the industry alive.posted by stbalbach at 8:16 PM on June 14, 2003

I would like to see some numbers on how many people have fallen for this scam. Surely someone has reported it, and i'm sure a lot who fall for it don't.posted by tomplus2 at 8:21 PM on June 14, 2003

>I mean, it was obvious when it first started that it was a scam, and it's been so publisized, how can anyone still fall for the thing?

It works surprisingly well. Maybe surprisngly isn't the best term. From what I can tell they completely play on our vanities, greed, and ignorance. There are just too many people out there who think life is like a spy novel and consider, "Only I can save the Prince and his fortunes! Not to mention make a little money on the side," a rational thought.posted by skallas at 1:51 AM on June 15, 2003

I doubt I'd be up to it...posted by shepd at 12:51 PM on June 15, 2003

skallas, really? You sure? I wasn't convinced that anyone falls for this anymore.

Then I read hipnerd's link above (to his impressive blog, I might add.) Four comments in a row from people who gave the old 419 routine some credence at all. Blithering idiots. ; )posted by dmt at 1:04 PM on June 15, 2003

Maybe there will always be a bunch of people for whom greed, or desperation overcomes doubt, but my guess would be that the majority of the 'suckers' are people who bought their first computer last week, have never used the net before, and then find themselves entranced with their first slices of spam.posted by apocalypse miaow at 2:29 PM on June 15, 2003

Ah yes, I have also had some dealings with Mr Solomon Mupesa. After seeing others have so much fun with these guys, I eagerly awaiting my next e-mail from Nigeria (short wait). I corresponded with several people, one of whom was Solomon and also Joseph Muboto, along similar lines to this guy until I simply got tired of the phone calls at all hours of the morning and ran out of creative things to say in e-mails. I had given the guy my mobile phone number and, to end the thing, I said when he called that I was my brother and that I had been killed by the secret police after being interrogated for several days about the contents of my e-mails over the previous few weeks, which the police had been monitoring. He hung up and never called back. I don't know why he did that.posted by dg at 7:56 PM on June 15, 2003

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